Persistent threats to the human family that emerge and reemerge across the face of Earth with potential to cause extinction or near-extinction. Pandemics can be combated through accelerated medical research at the International Space Station.

A partnership among Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States. The ISS is a precedent for and a record of lessons learned in planning and executing multinational collaborative space exploration initiatives.

One of the more exciting potential applications of nanoscience is the space elevator/shaft concept. This technological innovation could reduce dramatically the cost of sending payloads into space. Carbon molecules can be configured in a way to make possible the manufacture of super strong and light ribbon. This ribbon can be “dropped” from space to Earth (or to any celestial body) to form a tether between the celestial mass and an artificial counterweight in space. Special vehicles are now being designed to clamp onto and “climb” each side of the ribbon, powered below by laser light converted into electricity.

Thomas Meylan, Ph.D. is a thought leader in “optimizing luck” for the accomplished individual and for any work culture in the context of each. His approach draws from his background in both evolutionary psychology and astrophysics.

The human family lives within a reality of planet-life ending radiation from gamma-rays, which can occur any moment by the right type of imploding star within the Milky Way galaxy. Current and future human generations must either evade or somehow confront this natural lethal mega-force.

Freshwater scarcity/stress affects different sub-regions of Earth differently. The problem can be approached through using space-based solar power for energy-intensive seawater desalination followed by pipeline infrastructure projects.

Frank White uses interviews and writings by 29 astronauts and cosmonauts to show how circling the Earth every 90 minutes and viewing it from our moon have profoundly affected their perceptions of themselves, their world and the future. White imagines how a permanent perspective from outer space beyond excessive nationalism can affect politics, religion, social relations, psychology, economics and the hard sciences. Potential rebellion by human space settlers and human contact with extraterrestrial beings are also examined.